Life preserver inflation means



May 28, 1940. H. E. MURRAY #1 AL 2,202,225

LIFE PRESERVER INFLATION MEANS Filed Sept. 15, 1958 mvzmbns: Hqgh E. Murrgy Edward)? hr 'slbpher. 1 7

" A-r'r'oRNEY Patented May 28, 1940 UNITEDSTATES PATENT orr lca LIFE PRESERVER. INFLATION MEANS Hugh E. Murray and Edward "1. Christopher,

Denver, Colo.

Application September 15, 1938, Serial No. 230,059 11 Claims. (01. 221-735) This invention relates to life preservers of a type comprising an inflatable envelope-containing a gas-charged capsule provided with a tip fracturable to release said gas and thereby infiate said envelope. a

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a convenient and eflective means to release the gas confined within said capsule.

A further object is to provide a grip lever in- 'stantly operable by grasping the preserver in the hand-thereby to iracturesaid tip and release said A further object is to provide means for secure- 1y positioning such a grip lever in suitable position in relation to said capsule for convenient and instant use. I

A further object is to provide effective sealing means against escape of the gas confined within said capsule, at the same time permitting great facility in causing the release thereof in case of 'an emergency wherein it is desired to inflate said envelope to render the assembly available for use as a life preserver.

A further object is to provide a form of construction of said capsule which readily. permits the original filling of said capsule with a suitable gas, such as carbon dioxide in liquid form, and which thereafter avails of the pressure of said gas itself for the maintenance at all times of an effective seal to confine said gas within said capsule.

, A further object is to provide a form of construction of said capsule which includes a-tip readily iracturable to release the gas 'conflned within said capsule.

A further object is to provide eflective sealing means for said capsule, including a plug of integral construction and cooperable with other elements for effective sealing and which includes a 4o readily fracturable tipfor releasing the gas in gas confined within said capsule, upon the frac ture of said tip forlthe purpose of releasing said gas.

A further object is to provide a life preserver of great convenience in portability and ready availability in case of emergency. v

A further object is to provide a life preserver of the type aforesaid, the operation of which is immediately obvious to the ordinary person and which under the stress of emergency issusceptible of being instantly, and positively rendered available for eifective use.

Our invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in our claims and 5 illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which-- Y Figure 1 is a side elevation of an' assembly comprising a charged capsule fitted with a fracturable tip, a grip lever to fracturesaid tip, and 10 an apertured protector block receiving saidtip and portions of said gripping lever and of the capsule neck, a portionof saidi protector block being cut away to exhibit elements otherwise concealed. Figure 2is a front end elevation of the '15 I assembly of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a rear end elevation of the'assembly of Figure 1, with the protector block omitted. Figure 4 is a side elevation of the assembly of Figure 1, with an alternative form of grip lever substituted for that elevation of an assembly employing another form g of grip lever, partly cut away, and indicating a bag within which the assembly maybe disposed. 25 Figure '7 is a front elevation of an apertured ear tormin'g a part of the grip lever shown in Figure 6, and through which the tip of the capsule is re- -ceived. Figure 8 is a'iragmentary, detail section,

on an enlarged-scale, of the. neck portion of the 3 capsule in cooperating relation with a tip assembly. Figure 9 is a plan view of the assembly of Figure 4 and a double-walled envelope within which-saidassembly is disposed; for use, portions oi the envelope walls being cut away. Figure 10 is a side elevation of an assembly employing still another form of grip lever, certain portions being cut-.away. Figure 11 is a front end elevation of the assembly of Figure 10. Figure 12 is'a rear I end elevation of the assembly of Figure 10, with so the protector, block omitted.

In the construction of life preservers of this type for sale to and use by the public generally,

one of the important considerations is the prosolid tip, adapted wee fractured and therebyopen l said passageway in order that the gas confined in small quantities, would diminish convenience sembly of life preservers of this type is ,to-proenvelope wall, we have adopted amethod of dis-' in portability and would cause a risk of puncture of said element by external objects. In order to maintain the effectiveness of this seal we take advantage of the pressure of the confined gas itself. We have found that a very effective seal operating on this principle consists of a rubber gasket seated against an annular beveled shoulder, the slope of the bevel being at an angle of approximately sixty-two degrees. Such gasket may consist of rubber or other distensible material, and the pressure of the confined gas con stantly forces said gasket forward against said bevel, also causing a slight distention of said gasket toward the walls of the neck of the cap-'- suie. This particular arrangement and combination of the elements of said sealing means produces a seal which is highly effective and remains so. y

Another problem in the manufacture and asvide an arrangement which will permit the rapid discharge of gas from the capsule immediately upon the fracture of the tip closing the passagewayfor such discharge, yet prevent such gas discharge in the form of a jet directly against the wall of the surrounding envelope. As is. well known, when a gas which isjconfined under great pressure in a container is allowed to escape and expand, the expansion of such gas may produce a very low temperature. In the case of the escape of liquid carbon dioxidemnder certain circumstances, and its change of form into a gas, such great cold may be produced that a portion of the liquid carbon dioxide freezes to a snowy solid, and said solid itself evaporates so rapidly that it maintains a very low temperature so long as it lasts. In order that the capsule used may be charged in the most efficient manner for the purpose contemplated, that is to say, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, withcarbon dioxide, and in order that no direct jet of escaping gas may impinge on the surrounding posing the neck of the charged capsule in such manner as to provide for the retardation of the,

dispersion of the cold gas escaping in jet form from the capsule.

Another problem which must necessarily be taken into consideration in the design of 'a life preserver of this type intended for general use, is the fact that its mode of operation must be instantly obvious to the ordinary person, and that elaboratejirections for its use may be eliminated, to the end that in case of an emergency requiring immediate action nostudy, deliberation, or reading of directions is necessary. To this end we have provided an arrangement for the fracture of the closing 'tip confining the gas within the capsule, by means of a lever arrangementcony prising a grip adjacent the wallet the charged capsule. g This arrangement provides an obvious and natural method of operation, and at the' same time has the advantage of furnishing great leverage in applying the necessary force to fracture the closure tip, thus insuring a quick, sharp fracture, even when the device is operated by a woman or child or person of small strength.

Another problem involved in the design of life preservers of this type is the provision of eflicient means for carrying out the principles involved, and in arranging such means in such manner as 1 will provide great convenience in portability and availability. Thus, as will be seen from the detailed description which is to follow, the arrangement and assembly of parts is such that the life preserver may be folded and carried in a handbag, or may be pinned to a garment, or to.the curtain of a berth, or may be, when in use, securely fastened to a belt or garment. Having the foregoing objects and problems in view, we have provided for use in fracturing the closure tip a grip lever which may be of several optional forms, varying in detail, such forms being shown in Figures 1, 4, 6, and 10, of the accompanying drawing. Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Figure 1 thereof, the reference numeral l0 designates a, capsule charged with a gas such as carbon dioxide under suiiicient pressure that the gas, when released, will furnish suflicient buoyancy to render the envelope within which the various elements are disposed effective as a life preserver. The capsule is preferably formed with a neck ll, forward from which extends a tip l2 closing a passageway communicating with the interior of the capsule i0 and adapted to be fractured by the operation of a grip lever l5. This grip lever in the embodiment of theinvention shown in Figure 1 is fulcrumed on the neck ii, for whichpurpose a portion of said lever is formed into fingers i6 which constitute a yoke loosely embracing neck II. The rear portion of the grip lever i5 is normally thrust away from the wall of the capsule ID by the spacer H, which may consist of sponge rubber or other suitable resilient material.

The tip I2, the forward portion of said. 'grip lever, and a portion of the neck H are embracingly received within an apertured block 2|, which'may consist of rubber or other suitable resilient material, one of the purposes served by which is to maintain the grip lever IS in suitable position relative to the capsule l0.

' The forward portion of grip lever l5 consists of an apertured ear IS, the construction of which more clearly appears in Figure 2. The grip lever 15 and capsule l0 and associated elements are apertured ear l!,' the forward portion of the as-' -sembly resting within the aperture 20 of the protector block 2|. sembled and arranged, it is obvious that if capsule l0 and adjacent portion of the grip lever l5 be grasped firmly in the hand, the ear [9 will be moved in a direction transverseto the axis of the tip l2, thereby fracturing said tip at a point indicated at I3in'the enlarged view shown in Figure 8, thereby permitting the gas confined in the capsule It to escape through the passageway 24. Protector block 2i, while suitable to maintain the position of grip lever I5 in relation to capsule l0 as above pointed out, is of course sufficiently flexible to permit ready operation of the handle of said grip lever. Said protector block may be provided with additional apertures 22 for the with the various parts so as-,

purpose of diminishing weight. Protector block 2| also serves to prevent the forward part of the lever I5 and tip I2 coming in contact with the surrounding wall of the envelope within which the assembly is disposed, as clearly shown in Figure 9, thereby insuring against puncture of the surrounding envelope wall. Protector block 2|, in cooperation with ear I9, and the disposition of the forward .part of the assembly within aperture 20 of said block, also serves a further purpose in this: Aspointed out above, the outrush of gas from capsule III in the form of a jet upon the fracture of tip I2 produces great cold, and perhaps some solid material. The disposition of the elements shownwithin aperture 20 of block 2|, in the obstructing relation, clearly shown in Figure 1, tends to retard the dispersion of the cold gas outfiowing upon the fracture of tip I2, and also confines any solid matter produced until its complete evaporation; thus such disposition, in connection with block 2|, aids in insulating against any freezing effects andin keeping same localized. within aperture 20, preventing any injury which might otherwise tend to occur to the surrounding envelope wall clearly shown in Figure 9.

Optional forms of grip levers are shown in Figures 4, 6, and 10, said levers being suitably fulcrumedfor the fracture of tip I2 as described in connection with the assembly shown in Figure 1. Thus, the grip lever shown in Figure 4' is likewise fulcrumed on the neck II of the capsule I2, and is firmly held in place'by protector block 2|, the fingers I 6 of the arrangement shown in Figure v1 being eliminated in the ,grip lever. |5a

shown in Figure 4.

In the assembly shown in Figure 6, the grip lever I50 is likewise fulcrumed on neck II of capsule III, two fingers forming a yoke similar to that clearly shown in Figure 2, embracing neck II, only one of said fingers being shown in Figure 6 and being therein, designated as IIia.

In the assembly shown in Figure 6 the yoke forms ing a part of grip lever I50 is suitably'formed so as to be slidable rearwardly on neck II. Maintenance of position of the grip lever in. this particular embodiment of the invention is secured by forming a portion of said grip lever of such material and in such manner as to be fiexible; thus fingers ISa, or the rear portion of grip lever I50 adjacent contoured portion 35, or both, are sufi'iciently flexible to permit ready positioning of said lever, and to permit movement of the handle of said lever in a direction toward the axis of capsule I I when said handle and said capsule are gripped, whereupon lever I50 fulcrums on neck II. Lever I50 and capsule I are so formed as to permit interenga-g ement for the purpose of securing lever I50 relative to capsule I0 for ready operation, one means of providing such interengagement consisting, as shown in Figure 16, of forming a portion of -lever I50 with proper contour, indicated at 35,

tofit the rear portion of capsule III; said contoured portion, in cooperation with the yoke formed by fingers I6a, at all times holds lever |c in proper normal position relative to capsule I0. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, the grip lever is provided with an apertured ear I8, serving the same purpose as in the embodimerits previously referredto; however, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6 the aperture in ear I8 is elongated, as shown'in Figure 7, topermit the ready positioning. of lever- I50. The position of said gripping lever while same is betioned; thus when lever I50 and capsule III are grasped, said lever fulcrums on neck II and ear I8 is moved transversely of tip I2, opening the passageway communicating with the interior of capsule III and permitting an outflow of gas therefrom.

In further reference to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, it will be noted that capsule I0 and lever I50 are enclosed in a bag 36.- This bag is permeable to gas but retards the dispersion of said gas during its rapid outflow from capsule III, thus preventing any injury which might otherwise tend to occur on account of the low temperature effects accompanying the rapid expansion of said gas, as hereinabove more fully referred to. It is to be further noted that in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 6 the protector block 2| employed in the embodimentsillustrated in Figuresll, 4, and 10 is unnecessary, its function of maintaining the positionof the grip lever relative .tothe capsule III as shown in said three latter figures being supplanted in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6 by the positive interengagement of lever Ific and capsule 'III, and its function in retarding dispersion of the cold gas upon fracture of tip I2, as mentioned in reference to Figures 1, 4,.and.

10, being supplanted by the bag 36 indicated in Figure 6.

In Figures 10 and 11 is shown a still further 2 optional assembly wherein grip-lever |5b may consist of stiff wire bentl-z,to form a handle adjacent the body of capsuleiIIl and extending forward through an aperture in block 2|, the for- Ward portion of said lever lib beingform'ed intospaced, integral loops I94: and I9b to receive. tip |2.. In this embodiment itwill be observed that lever |5b may be made to fulcrum upon tip I2 itself, rather than upon the neck of capsule I2, the same purpose however being accomplished by gripping capsule III and lever I 6, causing a fracture of tip I2 for the purpose referred to in previous descriptions of embodiments of the invention as illustrated in other figures.

i We will now refer more in detail to the manner in which capsule I0 is sea1'ed,' and to the I capsule 'II) in cooperating relation with the tip assembly, as shown in Figure 8, the assembly shown in the latter figure being adapted for use in connection with any of the forms of grip lever hereinbefore mentioned. A plug 29 is disposed partially within and extends forward from neck II, and contains a passageway 24 communicating with the interior of, capsule I0 and closed by tip'IZ. Neck II of the capsule is formed with an inturn 26-, after insertion of plug 29; inturn 25 encircles the stem of plug 29 and abuts a shoulder on said stem formed by an annular boss 23 preventing said plug being thrust out of neck II; the rear portion of said boss is in the form of a bevel 21 preferably having an inclination of sixty-two degrees from the axis-of plug 29.

1 Gasket 28 seats against bevel 2'! and encircles the rearward adjacent portion of plug 29 and extends to and fits against the adjacent wall portion of neck H to form a seal between plug 28 and the wall of neck ll, said gasket being of rubber or other suitable distensible material. Whensaid gasket 28 is properly seated all means of communication from the interior of capsule III are closed, passageway 24 being closed by solid tip [2. When capsule i0 is charged with gas the pressure of said gas forces plug 28 forward, but its move-' ment is limited by the abutment formed by intum 25. The said .gas pressure also compresses and distends gasket 28, forcing same forward against bevel 21 and also causing a slight distension of said gasket toward the walls of the neck of capsule l0, thus forming and maintaining a tight seal preventing the escape of gas from said capsule until such time as tip I2 is intentionally "of envelope 14. It is obvious that if capsule I0 and associated, grip lever I be firmly grasped with the hand while positioned as shown in Figure 9, the movement of said lever lSa will fracture the tip of capsule l0, as hereinabove more fully referred to, permitting an outflow 0 gas from capsule l0, throughpassageway 24 as own in Figure 8; thus inflating both the inner wall 30 and outer wall SI of envelope II and converting envelope l4 into a light and serviceable life preserver. While in Figure 9 the assembly of capsule i0 and associated elements as shown in Figure 4 is indicated, it is obvious that the assembliesshown in Figures 1, 6, and 10, are equally available for utilization inthis connection.

It will be obvious that the inner wall '30 and outer wall 3| of envelope ll are first formed with one open end for the purpose of assembly in the form hereinabove described; after the elements 'hereinabove mentioned are suitably disposed tions in the specific form, construction, and arrangement of the elements shown and described may be had without departing from the spirit of our invention, we wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description. y

We claim as our invention- 1. In a device of the character described, -a charged capsule, a passageway communicating with the interior of said capsule, a tip closing said passageway and adapted to be fractured and thereby to open said passageway and release the gas conflnedwithin said capsule, a grip. lever extending rearward of said neck and overlying said capsule, a fulcrum aboutwhich said grip lever is adapted to move, and a connection between said grip lever and said tip such that the movement of said lever about said-fulcrum and toward said capsule will fracture said tip.

2. In a device of the character described, a charged capsule, a passageway communicating with the interior of said capsule, a tip closing said passageway and adapted to be fractured and thereby to open said passageway and release the gas confined within said capsule, a grip lever extending rearward of said neck andoverlying said capsule, a fulcrum about which said grip lever is adapted to move, a connection between said grip lever and said tip such that the movement of said lever about said fulcrum and toward said capsule will fracture said tip, and a yieldable spacer intermediate the rearward portion of said grip lever and said capsule opposing the movement of said lever about its fulcrum.

85 3. In a device of the character described, a

tured and thereby to open said passageway and release the gas confined within said capsule, a grip lever extending rearward of said neck and overlying said capsule, a portion of said lever in contact with said neck, a fulcrum formed by said portion of said lever in contact with said neck and about which said grip lever is adapted to move, and a connection between said grip lever and said tip such that the movement of said lever about said fulcrum and toward said capsule within said envelope l4 the open ends of said inner wall 30 and said outer wall ii are cemented thereof, thus providing double protection for in- .fiatability an retention of released gas within envelope M. e cement used is, of course, of a nature which will be unaffected by. water while said assembly is being used as a life preserver.

In its assembled form the life preserver may be provided with a suitable hanging or "fastening means, for convenience in attaching to a garment when carried'on the person in readiness for use,

or to otherwise hang or fasten the same, or-for attaching to a belt or garment to prevent "displacement while the body of the user is in the water. In the form illustratedin Figure 9, such fastening means consists ofa safety-pin, the forward means.

Since many changes, variations, and modiflcaso as to accomplish a complete closure of each I is adapted to fracture said tip. I

4. In a device of the character described, a charged capsule formed with a neck, a passageway communicating with the interior Of said capsule, a .tip lesser in cross section than said neck and extending-forward therefrom and closing said passageway and adapted to be fractured and thereby to open said passageway and release the gas confined within said capsule, a grip lever extending rearward of said neck. and overlying said capsule, a portion of said lever in contact with said-neck, a fulcrum formed by said por-' tion of said lever in contact with said neck and about which said grip lever is adapted to move,

way communicating with the interior of said a connection between said grip lever and said i and adapted to be fracturedandthereby said passageway and release the gas confinedcapsule, a tip lesser in cross section than said capsule and extending forward therefrom and closing said'passageway and adapted to be fractured and thereby to open said passageway and release the gas contined'withinsaid capsule, a grip lever, a portion of said lever in loose contact with said neck and freely mqvable trana versely thereof, a fulcrum formed by said portion of said lever in contact with said neck and;

about whichsald grip lever is adapted to move, a connection between said grip lever and said tip such that the movement of said lever about said fulcrum is adapted to fracture said tip, and an apertured block yieldably embracing a portion of said lever and a portion of said neck to normally secure said lever in position.

6. In a device of the character described, a charged capsule formed with a neck, a passageway communicating with the interior of said cap sule, a tip closing said passageway and adapted to be fractured and thereby to open said passageway and release the gas confined within said capsule, a grip lever, a portion of said lever in contact with said neck, a, fulcrum formed by said portion of said lever in contact with said neck and about which said 8111) lever is adapted to move, a connection between said grip lever and said tip such that the movement of said 7. In a device 'of the character described, a.

charged capsule, a passageway communicating with the interior of said capsule, a tip lesser in cross section than said capsule extending forward therefrom and closing said passageway to open within said capsule, a grip lever extending rearward from said tip and overlying said capsule,

means associating said grip lever and said tip. to form a fulcrum on the latter, and a con-.

passageway in said plug commimicating with' the interior of said capsule, a tip closing said tip in spaced relation longitudinally passageway and extending exteriorly of said' capsule and adapted to be fractured by force applied externally ofsaid capsule and thereby to open said passageway, a seat, and a gasket engageabie with said seat to seal said capsule I 'and suitably disposed tobe urged against said seat by gas pressure within said capsule.- 9. In a charged capsule of the characte described, sealing means comprising a plug, a passageway in said plug'communlcating with the interior of said capsule, a tip closing said passageway and 'extendingexteriorly oi; said capsule and adapted to be fractured by force applied externally of said capsule and thereby to open said passageway, a conical seation said I; plug converging inwardly of said capsule, and a distensib le gasket engageable with said seat toseal said capsule and suitably disposed to be urged against said seat by gas pressure within said capsule. 10. In a charged capsule of the character described, sealing means comprising a plug in-' cluding a stempartially within and terminating in a fracturable tip forward and exteriorly of said. capsule, a passageway in said plug coma. municating with the interior of said capsule and closed bysaid tip, an annular shoulder on said stem, an inturn of the forward portion of the wall of said capsule to abut said shoulder, an

roundingsthe rearwardly adiacent portion of said stem and extending to and fitting against the interior wall ofsaid capsule and adapted to be i.

distended by gas pressure within said capsule to form a tight seal between said plug' and the interior wall of said capsule.

11. In a device of the character described, including a charged capsule within an inflatable envelope, a passageway communicating with the interior of said capsule, a tip closing-said passageway'a'nd adapted to be fractured and thereby to open said passageway'and release the gas confined within said capsule, a grip lever, a fulcrum about which said grip lever is-adapted to move, and a connection between said grip lever and said tip such that the movement of saidlever about said fulcrum will fracture said tip, means to diffuse the Jet action of the escaping gas, comprising a second and gas-permeable envelope completely encloflng said capsule, tip andgrip lever assembly and. completely enclosed said iirst mentioned envelope.

HUGH E. MURRAY.

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